The court heard how Pearson had been attempting to take his methadone in the house he shared with his girlfriend during the early hours of Sunday 8th June. Mark Morgan, prosecuting, said that Pearson accidentally dropped the methadone and woke his girlfriend who lay sleeping in their bed when he began shouting in frustration.

When Pearson’s girlfriend became annoyed that he had woken her, he jumped on the bed and kneed her in the face, splitting her lip.

He then pulled the quilt over her head and began punching her repeatedly.

Defence solicitor David Verrity assured Magistrates that Pearson ‘felt remorse’ and that the attack was out of character for Pearson, brought on by the fact he became unwell when his methadone fix became unavailable.

He added that Pearson and his girlfriend had since reconciled.

Magistrates were satisfied that Pearson was sorry for his actions, and imposed a community order of 12 months, 60 hours unpaid work, £85 court costs and £60 victim surcharge.